Canine Separation Anxiety: What happens when we go back to work?

Most of the country will begin easing COVID-19 stay-at-home restrictions over the next few weeks. Like many of you, I’m eager to get back to work and “normal life,” but also want to be safe. One of the most common questions I’m receiving lately is, “How will my dog behave when I return to work?”

Psychologists tell us it takes about two months for a routine to become a habit. In my 28 years practicing veterinary medicine, I’d say that’s also about right for dogs. Over the past two months, most of our country’s dogs (and their pet parents) have been living a new routine, potentially creating new habits.

What will happen when we suddenly leave our dogs home alone? While humans may be able to adapt to abrupt schedule changes, our dogs thrive on daily structure. Here are some ways to help your dog ease into your new schedule and reduce the risk of separation anxiety and other unhealthy behaviors.

Your dog is always learning

It’s important to remember that no matter your dog’s age, they’re actively learning every day. In fact, we’ve bred dogs to be highly trainable, perform tasks (“task-oriented”), and able to comprehend and follow commands, subtle gestures, and even mimic our facial expressions.

This is why regardless of your schedule, it’s important to interact with your dog two to three times daily for a couple of minutes teaching or reviewing an action. Even if you only ask your pooch to sit, down, stay, or retrieve before feeding, that’s an excellent start.

Secret work-from-home dog school

The reason I mention these “two-minute training” sessions is that your dog has been secretly attending “work-from-home dog school.” They’ve been taking notes and adapting their behaviors to your new (albeit temporary) routine. Hopefully these lessons have been constructive, but some dogs may have slipped into unhealthy habits because they've adjusted to the new daily structure. You won’t know if these changes have occurred until, you guessed it, you leave them alone. That’s why it’s essential you start teaching new classes now.

What is canine separation anxiety?

In general terms, dogs suffering from canine separation anxiety (CSA) will “panic” and exhibit destructive or harmful behaviors when they can’t be in physical contact or close proximity to their owners. Researchers estimate 20% to 40% of all dogs will exhibit some signs of CSA. A recent dog owner survey found 1 in 7 dogs had at least one symptom of CSA, equaling about 13 million dogs.

The bad news is there’s no long-lasting treatment for CSA other than behavior modification. That’s why prevention and early recognition and intervention is key to success. Prescription medications are used in about 10% to 20% of all CSA cases.

CSA can lead to huge, sometimes devastating effects on family life. I’ve heard about far too many pet parents who relinquished or even euthanized their dog in unresolved cases. CSA is serious and can escalate rapidly from “annoying” to “unacceptable.”

Excessive and persistent drooling, excessive licking of lips, easily startled (“jumpy”), “whale eyes” (frightened look) or “side eyes” (looking at you from sides often indicates anxiety), and dilated pupils are also associated with CSA.

Dogs with CSA are more likely to develop other behavior problems. Noise, thunderstorm, stranger, and travel anxieties are found more frequently in dogs with CSA.

What is not a sign of CSA?

The key to identifying CSA is that the unwanted behavior occurs in the absence or spatial distance of the pet parent. CSA is not associated with:

New Normal

These are just a few ideas to help your dog acclimate to the “new normal” after the COVID-19 quarantine period is over. If your dog exhibits any unusual or unwanted behavior as you return to work, notify your veterinarian immediately. These “unhealthy habits” can escalate quickly and become challenging to correct with each passing day. By recognizing a problem behavior before it becomes a “bad habit,” you can help your pet adapt to almost any situation. Stay safe and give your dog a hug from me!

What Is Actually In Your Dog's Food?

WAIT! BEFORE YOU GO on about your day, ask yourself: Is the dog food you're feeding your best friend really the best food out there? At its core, there’s an unhealthy meat dependency in pet food. Most of the time, meat in your pet food means: Bad ingredients. Bad practices. And bad health. Learn more about clean protein dog food...